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The Two Gentlemen of
Verona Play
The Two Gentlemen of Verona begins with Valentine
and Proteus travelling from Verona to Milan, Valentine
heading for Milan to serve in the Duke of Milan's court.
Proteus joins his friend with his servant Launce, but
would rather be with Julia, the women he loves and whom
secretly loves him as well. Proteus is heading for the
court because his father has decided it is time for
his son to make a living. In Milan, Valentine falls
in love with Silvia, the Duke of Milan's daughter but
unfortunately for the two lovers, Silvia is to marry
wealthy courtier Thurio instead. Valentine and Silvia
therefore prepare to elope but Valentine reveals his
plans to Proteus who is also in love with Silvia and
who decides to tell the Duke of the elopement plan to
have Silvia all to himself. Valentine suspects his friend
loves Silvia, but Proteus denies this, hiding his true
feelings but questioning the morality of loving his
best friend's love...
The Duke, learning of Valentine's deception, immediately
banishes him. Seizing the opportunity, Proteus tells
Valentine that he will act as an intermediary between
Valentine and Silvia, even servant Launce suspecting
Proteus is after Silvia... Learning of Silvia's depression
of Valentine's banishment, Proteus defames Valentine
to cheer up the Duke's daughter. This gesture fails,
but leads to Proteus rising ever higher in the Duke's
esteem, even becoming a trusted confidant concearning
Silvia and Thurio, the man Silvia is still intended
for. Meanwhile, the banished Valentine befriends and
eventually becomes the leader of a group of criminals
who live in a neaby forest. Julia, Proteus' original
love arrives in Milan disguised as a young male page
to find her love Proteus. Proteus' courting, however
is failing, his defaming of Valentine only angers Silvia
more and more whilst making her love of Valentine ever
stronger. Thurio too continues to court the very uninterested
Silvia; she cares for Valentine alone, not Proteus or
Thurio. Proteus continues courting Silvia, not realising
the page (Sebastian) he sends to communicate his wishes
to Silvia is none other than Julia, still disguised
as a page! Julia, still in love with Proteus, resolves
to win him back. Meanwhile, Silvia, still yearning Valentine,
flees Milan for the forest only to taken hostage by
Valentine's gang.
The Duke of Milan, learning of his daughters fate,
sends would be husband Thurio and confidant Proteus
to rescue Silvia. Proteus gets to Silvia first before
Silvia can discover the gangs leader, her love, Valentine.
Valentine hides in nearby bushes whilst Proteus with
the disguised Julia in tow, declares his devotion for
Silvia. Valentine even overhears Proteus continuing
to bad mouth him and Silvia's continued contempt for
Proteus, her rescuer! Valentine reveals himself, rescues
Silvia, Proteus apologizing in shame for what he has
said and done to Valentine. The two make peace, Valentine
even offering Silvia to Proteus. Julia, seeing this,
feints, Proteus now realising Julia has known all along
about his pursuit of Silvia... Proteus rediscovers his
love for Julia. The Duke of Milan arrives with Thurio
as prisoners of Valentine's gang, Thurio dropping his
resolve to marry Silvia when threatened by the possibility
of having to fight Valentine. The Duke is unimpressed
with Thurio's cowardice. Thus the play ends with Silvia
being granted the right to marry Valentine, Proteus
planning on marrying Julia and Valentine's band of criminals
being granted a pardon by the Duke.
Contents
Dramatis
Personæ
Act I
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III
Act II
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV, Scene V, Scene
VI, Scene VII
Act III
Scene I, Scene
II
Act IV
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV
Act V
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV
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